March 11, 2013

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LAS VEGAS --- The West Coast Conference and The Orleans Arena have announced a three-year contract extension that will keep the West Coast Conference Men's and Women's Basketball Championships in Las Vegas through 2016. The extension comes after the West Coast Conference sold out the Orleans Arena in advance of the tournament in four of the five years the Conference's signature event has taken place inside The Orleans.

"I am very pleased that the West Coast Conference and The Orleans Arena have agreed to extend our partnership for the next three years," said Jamie Zaninovich, Commissioner of the West Coast Conference. "Thanks in large part to the efforts of The Orleans management and staff, our men's and women's basketball championships have been an overwhelming success since we brought the event to Las Vegas five years ago. We look forward to improving upon the experience for our student-athletes, coaches and fans with this contract extension."

Beginning in 2014, the West Coast Conference Championships will feature a 10-team men's and women's bracket. The 7- through 10-seeds will open play on the tournament's first day, with the winners joining the top six seeds first competing in the quarterfinal round.

"With four conference championship tournaments this year, Las Vegas has become a major destination for college basketball fans," said Tony Taeubel, Vice President and General Manager of The Orleans. "The Orleans Arena is proud to renew our partnership with the West Coast Conference, extending the run of this popular tournament through 2016. The West Coast Conference has incredibly passionate fans and great teams, and we're honored to have the opportunity to host their championship tournament for the next three years."

In addition to the basketball games themselves, the week-long celebration of the West Coast Conference features the annual induction of a new class into the WCC Hall of Honor as well as the popular Kids Day community service initiative, benefitting over 500 Las Vegas youth from the After-School All-Stars program.

"Our vision for the West Coast Conference basketball championships is to create an event which serves as a celebration of the conference, its traditions and values," Zaninovich explained. "The Hall of Honor brunch and the Kids Day celebration help us execute upon this vision and they will be essential elements of the championships for many years to come."

About the West Coast Conference
The West Coast Conference was formed in 1952 and has evolved and grown to become a nationally recognized and competitive force in Division I intercollegiate athletics, with 13 conference-sponsored sports: baseball, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's cross country, men's and women's golf, women's rowing, men's and women's soccer, men's and women's tennis and women's volleyball. The WCC ischaracterized by the stability of its membership and its unique emphasis oncombining excellence in athletics with excellence in academics. For more information, visit www.wwcsports.com or follow the West Coast Conference on Twitter @WCCsports.

About The Orleans
The Orleans Arena, a Boyd Gaming facility located just west of the Las Vegas Strip, is one of the nation's leading mid-sized arenas, and was recently ranked No. 1 in the United States and #5 Internationally among venues of similar size by Venues Today Magazine. The Arena hosts more than 200 events each year, including concerts by top names like Carrie Underwood, Daughtry, Van Halen, Brooks & Dunn, Black Eyed Peas, Akon and Rihanna; family favorites like Disney Live and Shrine Circus; and a wide variety of sporting events, including NCAA basketball tournaments, the West Coast Conference and Western Athletic Conference Basketball Championships and major motorsports events. The arena serves as home to the Las Vegas Wranglers professional ECHL hockey team and the Las Vegas Legends professional indoor soccer team. For information on booking events call 702.365.7469, or visit www.orleansarena.com.